Comments Posted By Brian
Displaying 61 To 90 Of 1,055 Comments
Re: funeral banner for Marcela
I had the same thought as you. LOL. I am sure that when the family is getting this type of banner made, they try to give the print shop the best picture they can find of the deceased. If that is the best picture that they can come up with, then I would hate to see her in her normal state. #eekre: bargirls and weight
Heard the same thing in Thailand. Attractive girls can do better freelancing on-line. Also, there are more “legitimate” jobs that pay equivalent to what can be earned in a bar, so that opens up another option.Re: lifestyle creep
Yup, so true. So true what he mentions about lifestyle creep getting to the point where a person’s entire monthly income is spent maintaining their normal lifestyle. Leaves nothing for any emergencies, and when one occurs, they are screwed.» Posted By Brian On 26/May/2026 @ 3:37 am
>Brian, so what I hear you saying is that women are the same all over the world. You might be right about that, but then, I guess the case could be made that so are us menfolk. The reality is that everyone should hold out for what they want and not settle for less than that.
For the most part, yes, I do think that women (and men) are basically the same around the world. Of course, there are some cultural differences, but I think the notion that women from SE Asian have the cultural norms to be the perfect wife is a bit overblown.
For every story about a wife like that, there’s another story about someone who gets screwed over by a Filipina. Just like there are a lot of women in the west who make great wives, and then there are some who will screw you over.
It would be interesting to see divorce statistics between couples where one is foreign born (specifically from SE Asia.). I would suspect (with absolutely no data to back this up!! LOL) that breakups/divorces occur with at least the same frequency as marriages between two US native born individuals.
» Posted By Brian On 26/May/2026 @ 3:18 am
>Anyway, I don’t think the age-gap thing is a problem. I know some Western women hate that men come here to find a young girlfriend, calling it shallow. I’m like, yeah, right, and you wouldn’t look at someone like me unless I was rich AND handsome.
I disagree a bit. I think the same thing happens in the west, regardless of how handsome (or not) the guy is. It is just that the definition of rich in the west is a bit different than the definition of rich in a developing country. Look at Anna Nicole Smith/J Howard Marshall. Look at Trump/Melania. etc etc
To land a hot western lady when there is a significant age gap probably requires a 8 figure (excluding numbers after the decimal point) net worth. In a developing country, a guy could do the same with a 6 figure (or maybe 5 figure) net worth.
As I’ve said before, as long as both sides are cognizant of what the relationship is all about, I have no problems with it as all relationships are transactional at some level. Yeah, the lady likes the stability an older guy has, but if that stability came with no savings and very little monthly income, I doubt she would be as interested in his stability. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 23/May/2026 @ 12:05 am
Re:Comment on age gap
Although I have not been to the PI, I have a lot of time spent in other SE Asian countries, and I think that the age gap is generally about the same in other countries as the PI. I dont think that the Philippines is an anomaly. Of course, you see close age gaps, but that generally occurs when the guy is young. 20 something dating a 20 something, etc. I have never seen a 60’s+ male foreigner starting a relationship with a 60’s+ local lady.» Posted By Brian On 21/May/2026 @ 11:13 pm
I guess the Filipino 18th birthday party is similar to the hispanic 15th (quinceañera) birthday party.
Re: AI/ChatGPT
It is crazy what it can do with photos. I can (kind of) understand how the text part works, but am blown away by what it can do with photos. Hard to trust any photo or video any more as they can be so easily manipulated. There are still some tell tale giveaways, the as the technology gets better and better, it will be harder and harder to detect fakes.Re: resumé
Well, seems like the door to your relatives is not completely closed. LOL Although I am sounding like a broken record, maybe you guys should take a trip back to the US.» Posted By Brian On 21/May/2026 @ 1:50 am
I know you are settled in Baretto, and any review will probably come with that bias (either negative or positive). But interested in hearing your first hand perspective.
» Posted By Brian On 18/May/2026 @ 8:59 am
Maybe the Baretto government should speak to the Bohol government about what they are doing right in regards to keeping the island clean.
Obviously, it can be done!
» Posted By Brian On 16/May/2026 @ 11:17 pm
re: Okyanus Bar
Other than those bar chairs looking to be at least 6 inches too low, it looked like a nice place. LOLRe: kids and grandkids.
Take a chance. Set up a trip to the US. Let them know you guys are coming and I would guess that you guys will be welcomed with open arms.» Posted By Brian On 13/May/2026 @ 10:49 pm
Being nosy, what happened with the next door neighbors? #eek
re: Mt Pinatubo
Is there a hiking trail around the circumference of the crater? Did something similar around a dormant volcano in the Azores. Lots of fun, though it appears to be on a much smaller scale than Pinatubo.» Posted By Brian On 10/May/2026 @ 11:38 pm
I am not an everyday commenter, but do follow the blog on pretty much a daily basis.
So, how is that war in Iran going? LOL. Fortunately, it has been localized and there is no spillover to the rest of the world economy. #sarcasm
» Posted By Brian On 09/May/2026 @ 11:42 pm
Dont get me wrong. The subject matter is interesting, but the presentation left something to be desired. No fault of yours. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 05/May/2026 @ 11:55 pm
Looks like a nice place you are heading to. Enjoy!
Re: Video about China
Nothing too surprising there.
(as an aside, I hate videos where they use either badly created AI clips or videos that do not really tie in to the subject matter. Especially when it is a “non fiction” current events type of video.)» Posted By Brian On 04/May/2026 @ 11:14 pm
I do. Sent you an email.
Nothing quite as exciting as yours however. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 04/May/2026 @ 10:06 am
Re: Blog and font size.
It appears that you are using WordPress for your blog. If it is the same as mine, then the fix should also be the same. LOL When you are in edit mode for your blog, on the left side, there should be a “vertical” menu; Posts, Media, Pages, etc.
Go down to Appearance –> Customize and that should bring up another menu.
Go to Global –> Typography and there should be a section with setting up fonts for Body, Headers, etc.
» Posted By Brian On 01/May/2026 @ 10:58 pm
Thinking of what your initial plan was – keep a base in the US and spend time overseas for part of the year.
We will see how that works out. LOL
“Man plans, God laughs”
» Posted By Brian On 01/May/2026 @ 10:38 pm
Yeah I do. The traditional 3 legged stool.
Part 1 is save save save. LOL
Part 2 is the lucky fact that I work for one of the few remaining non governmental companies that offer a pension plan. They no longer do for new employees but I have been grandfathered in. No COLA, but at least it is something.
Part 3 is Social Security. Not really counting on it, so it will be a nice bonus if it is still solvent when I want to collect.
Yup, we are lucky for sure.
» Posted By Brian On 30/April/2026 @ 10:55 pm
RE: Reekay video
IMO, Working remotely overseas is not as easy as he makes it sound, especially if you are a full time employee and not a contractor. I have gone through it. The tax implications (for the company) can be pretty significant if an employee establishes a base in a place like the Philippines, and the company has not had a presence there previously.Doing short term work in the US to save money to live in the PI for a few months and then repeat. I am pretty financially conservative and boy, that is not something I would ever think about doing. Seems like you are always one step away from disaster. Something unexpected happens (medical emergency, accident, no job to go back to, etc.) and you are up the proverbial creek without a paddle. YOu’ve seen and I’ve seen it where an expat has some type of calamity and then they are looking for money to help them out. One of the project managers in my company used to say, “your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part”. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 29/April/2026 @ 11:39 pm
Keep hydrated, regardless of what the liquid it. LOL
I was going to make a snide comment about you being the same age as Swan’s mother but probably better not to go there. LOL
I am not sure if people are stupid, but their time (and mine) are worth something, and if I have the money, why not?
» Posted By Brian On 28/April/2026 @ 11:54 pm
Bantay Bayan to Barrio Barretto
Re: Reekay video
I only watch his videos when you post them, but IIRC it seems that he has very little original video content. Most of his stuff is him talking over either AI pictures or stock pictures. That is what may have gotten him flagged. Never posted something to YouTube so have no idea how it works, but it is frustrating that the customer service sucks. As Reekay notes, it is pretty much impossible to talk with a real human. Hopefully, he does rely on the money he gets from YouTube.
The video below is (I think) the first YouTube video to hit 1MM views. Some Korean kid doing Canon in D on his guitar. I remember it took a long time to find out who this person was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xjJXT0C0X4&list=RD2xjJXT0C0X4&start_radio=1
» Posted By Brian On 24/April/2026 @ 11:40 pm
Re: 1930’s driving
If you liked that one, you may like the below. A camera mounted on the front of a cable car in 1905 San Francisco. The video is enhanced, colorized and stabilized and some sound effects added. If you want to see the original, it is the second link below.Enhanced version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHkc83XA2dYoriginal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mkX8ecvtqU» Posted By Brian On 24/April/2026 @ 1:29 am
For curiosity, I looked at Jello prices in the US. Seems like it is about $1.50 per package, so ~50% more in the PI. Prices are going up everywhere unfortunately.
Re: Back in the US
I realize you have said “no” previously, but maybe you need a trip back to the US to reconnect. :P. A trip to get out of the rut.» Posted By Brian On 22/April/2026 @ 11:08 pm
I meant to say “unconditional love” in my comment rather than “unrequited love” but I think you got the gist of what I was trying to say.
» Posted By Brian On 21/April/2026 @ 11:17 pm
Glad to hear things may be getting better. I don’t want to overstep my bounds in giving advice, but I hope you are being realistic about understanding what each side wants/expects out of a relationship given the circumstances of age difference, cultural differences, economic differences, education, life experiences, etc.
If you are looking for unrequited love, that may be a tough ask in your current situation, given the things I mention above. If you can come to peace with what others may be looking for in a relationship (maybe security/comfort rather than love), then you will be okay.
Hope things work out.
» Posted By Brian On 20/April/2026 @ 11:43 pm
Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but not quite sure what you mean about being “too old to start over in another country.”
What deep ties do you have in the PI that would preclude that? You don’t have family there, you don’t have a business or property there. Yeah, you have friends there, but they don’t appear to be “go to the ends of the earth with them” type of friends. More of a superficial “if I see you in the bar, I will say hi to you” friends.
You have a familiarity with Baretto and that is about it. I get it, change is tough. I hate change, but it often is not as bad as imagined. What does starting over mean to you? A new place to rent? New trails to hike? New bars to hang out at? Different supermarket to shop at? None of those seem insurmountable, even if they are in a different country.
Anyway, I hope it doesn’t come to that, but moving seems to be less of a big deal than you think.
I have mentioned before, but you need to get out of the SE Asia bubble for a bit. Do a road trip across the US. Take a tour in Europe. Go on a cruise. Etc.
» Posted By Brian On 20/April/2026 @ 11:32 pm
@Steve beat me to it.
And the last I read, the Strait is closed yet again. LOLre: pubs
Not even sure it is a young mans game. For the most part, and in a place like Baretto, it probably isn’t even a money making game, especially when balanced against the drama and hassles that are inevitable in running a bar in a foreign country.» Posted By Brian On 18/April/2026 @ 10:51 pm
Re: Trump meme
Well, he also tweeted in 2019 (and I quote), “The United States has spent EIGHT TRILLION DOLLARS fighting and policing in the Middle East. Thousands of our Great Soldiers have died or been badly wounded. Millions of people have died on the other side. GOING INTO THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE WORST DECISION EVER MADE…..”
So, I am not sure I can believe his tweet about you. LOL
re: bars and lack of customers
On some level, I get the allure of owing a bar and the dreams of making it a success, but I am also smart enough to know the reality is quite a bit different.» Posted By Brian On 17/April/2026 @ 11:08 pm
Hopefully things, whether physical, mental, or relationship, are just a mere bump in the road of life.
Re: 2018 post
Self awareness is not easy to come to grips with. LOL. Always think of the stereotypical expat who complains that everyone around him is an asshole. Hmmm, maybe it is not the everyone around him who is the problem.» Posted By Brian On 16/April/2026 @ 11:09 pm
Remind me again, when does rainy season kick off in your neck of the woods? Is is June-ish?
Re:Sept 2018 post
The more things change, the more they stay the same. LOL. Life is always a series of compromises. Rare that the person you start dating is the same person later on. The joke is that the guy does not want the girl to change and the girl wants the guy to change but often, the opposite happens. But, it does sound like you are currently in a good place relationship wise. As the Rolling Stones sang,“You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need”» Posted By Brian On 14/April/2026 @ 11:19 pm
LOL
Keep fighting the good fight!!
(I don’t think I can embed a GIF but the below is the Korean person with a clenched fist saying “fighting!”)
» Posted By Brian On 13/April/2026 @ 11:17 pm
«« Back To Stats Page@Kevin. You are doing yeoman’s work here, but as I always ask people in my group when starting a project, “With this task, what is your measure of success after X amount of time? If after X period, you have not achieved success, why not? Is it worth pursuing? Is there another way to go about it?, etc.”
If the answer is that success (as you define it) is not achievable, better to cut losses and move on.
I am trying to get better in identifying and not worrying about sunk cost. Still pretty bad at it however, particularly when it comes to books. I’ll start one, dislike it but continue reading because I have already spent X amount of time on the book. I would be better off in just closing the book and starting another one.
Anyway, just my 2 pesos worth of worthless feedback. LOL
» Posted By Brian On 13/April/2026 @ 12:09 am